Sports

HEROIC FINISH TO THE 2013 RED BULL X-ALPS

It was a fitting end to the 1,000km crossing of the Alps from Salzburg to Monaco that is the Red Bull X-Alps, the world's toughest adventure race. Lying in 10th place, on the 10th anniversary of the first edition, was a man who perhaps more than any other, embodies the spirit of the competition for his determination and never-give-up attitude.

Toma Coconea has competed in every edition of the race and is known for the Herclulean distances he's able to cover on foot. In both 2011 and 2009 he hiked over 900km. So when he found himself with 130km still to go on the last day — and with poor flying conditions — there was only one thing to do.

The 37-year-old athlete, who is supported locally by Suunto, did what he does best — and started running. Accompanied by his support crew and his army of fans, the Romanian set a steady 7'30min/km pace through the winding roads of southern France.

“He is crazy,” said a friend of Coconea's who was running with him. Along the way, his supporter Daniel Pisica, a Colonel in the Romanian army, smoking a cigar and with AC/DC blaring out of the van's stereo, shouted commands at him to keep him going.

“Come on soldier, fight!” he yelled.

Having set off at 05:30 Coconea eventually made the finish line at Peille, which overlooks Monaco, at 22:52 to be greeted by cheering crowds and blaring horns.

But for all 31 athletes, who were each equipped with a Suunto Ambit2, the jouney was an incredible adventure that began in Salzburg, Austria on July 7th. The race concept is simple — to journey in the fastest time possible to Monaco by foot or paraglider along a set route that passes through five countries and some of the most spectacular terrain of the Alps.

The straight-line distance of 1,031km does not do justice to the feat — most athletes who reached Monaco before the race end had covered over 2,500km.